replied. ``Men like Angelo Diotti do
not fall in love as soldiers fall in line.
Love to a man of his nobility is too
serious to be treated so lightly.''

``Very true, and that's what has
excited my curiosity!'' whereupon the old
man smoked away in silence.

``Excited your curiosity!'' said
Mildred. ``What do you mean?''

``It may be something; it may be
nothing; but my speculative instinct has
been aroused by a strange peculiarity in
his playing.''

``His playing is wonderful!'' replied
Mildred proudly.

``Aye, more than wonderful! I
watched him intently,'' said the old
man; ``I noted with what marvelous
facility he went from one string to the
other. But however rapid, however difficult
the composition, he steadily avoided
one string; in fact, that string remained
untouched during the entire hour he
played for us.''